Holder and inclosure for lamps



Jan. 16, 1934. ANDERSON 1,943,852

HOLDER AND INCLOSURE FOR LAMPS Filed Nov. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 %&%I v 1 E.G.K.ANDERSON HOLDER AND INCLOSURE FOR LAMPS Jan. 16, 1934.1,943,852

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1932 Patented Jan. 16, 1934 PATENTOFFICE HOLDER AND INCLOSURE FOR LAMPS Ernst G. K. Anderson, Evanston,111., assignor to Appleton Electric Company, a corporation of IllinoisApplication November 12, 1932 Serial No. 642,419

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for supporting and inclosingelectric light bulbs and, viewed in various of its aspects, the presentinven tion may be said to have for its objects: to produce a strongglass globe effectively reenforced with metal; to produce a glass globehaving a wide flat annular bearing surface or face at the open end; andto produce a holding and inclosing means which will beexplosion-resistant and 9 thereby prevent any danger of the ignition ofgases in the surrounding atmosphere through sparks or flame generatedwithin the inclosing means.

In carrying out my invention in its most highly developed form, all ofthe foregoing objects, as well as other objects, will be attained,although in some forms of the invention it is not essential that meansbe present for carrying out each and every object. The various featuresof nov- 9 elty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter bepointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a fullunderstanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages,reference may be had to the followng detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lamp holder and inclosing means,including a reflector, embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section, on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a view of theglobe, partly in section and partly in elevation, on a still largerscale, before removing it from the mold, a fragment of the mold beingshown; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view,partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a fragment of theholder in which the supporting ring for the globe does not have thereonthe protective metal cage shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 6 is an elevationof the metal parts entering into the manufacture of the globe, in thepositions which they occupy relatively to each other in the mold, beforethe glass is applied; Fig. '7 is a bottom plan View of the parts shownin Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the cage-like metal reenforcingstructure, showing it in full lines as it appears in the mold and indotted lines in an expanded condition; Fig. 9 is a section, on anenlarged scale, on line 9-9 of Fig. '7; Fig. 10 is a plan view of afragment of a modified form of end ring for the cage-like reenforcingstructure; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing a furthermodification; and Figs. 12 and 13 are sections taken, respectively, on

line 12-12 and line 13-13 of Fig. 11.

In the construction of my improved globe, I preferably employshatterproof glass suitably reenforced with metal. I prefer that themetal reenforcing structure be in the form of a ring 1 of small crosssectional area, adapted to lie within the annular wall of the globe inproximity to the open end of the latter; this ring having connectedthereto a series of wires extending lengthwise of the globe and meetingat the apex of the latter. The globe that I have illustrated is in theform of a cylindrical shell open at one end and having the other endclosed by an approximately hemispherical dome-like part. Eachlongitudinal wire therefore conveniently consists of a straight portion2 and a curved portion 3, joined to the section 2, in the form of aquadrant of a circle; the two sections of each wire lying in a planecontaining the long axis of the globe. Where an even number of wires areemployed, as shown, each straight section and corresponding curvedsection may be integral with and form part of the same wire as thediametrically opposite straight and curved sections. In other words,each wire, in this form, extends continuously from the ring to a pointon the ring diametrically opposite. It is necessary that some means heprovided for connecting the wires where they cross each other at the tipof the globe. In the arrangement shown, I have provided a small sheetmetal cup 4 having a curved bottom. The side walls of the cup areslotted, as indicated at 5, from the free edge downwardly. The wires allpass through the cup, each wire lying in the proper diametricallyopposed slots. A small metal disk 6 is set in the cup on top of thewires, and the marginal portion of the cup around the mouth or open endis then flanged inwardly, as indicated at 7, to hold the disk downagainst the wires. The disk and the bottom wall of the cup are providedwith central registering openings 8 and 9, respectively, to permit theescape of gases at the time the glass body is being molded about themetal structure, and thus avoid the formation of bubbles in the glass.

The ring 1 must be of small cross-sectional area in order to avoidcracking of the glass upon the cooling of the globe following themolding operation. In some instances the ring is made divided instead ofbeing continuous, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. This not only facilitatesexpansion in the circmnferential direction, without increase of radius,under temperature changes; but, if the ring he more or less resilient,it may be employed frictionally to hold the metal reenforcing struo tureproperly positioned in the mold. In other words, if the ring tends toopen, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, and must be partially closed,as shown in full lines, in order to enter the mold. some part of themetal reenforcing structure will be yieldingly pressed against thesurrounding wall of the mold. In Fig. 3 there is shown a fragment of themold, indicated at A. The diameter of the main portion of the moldcavity, indicated at B, is such that the ring 1 will be closed, as shownin full lines in Fig. 8, at the time that the wires 2 engage with thewall of the cavity B.

The parts are so proportioned that the buttonlike connector 4 for thewires rests in a suitable depression, not shown, in the bottom of themold, while the longitudinal wires engage with the mold walls. Also, thebottom of the mold is provided with a vent to register with the opening9 in the member 4.

By having the longitudinal wires and the connecting member therefor atthe apex of the globe in contact with the walls of the mold, they willbe kept reasonably cool when the molten glass is disposed in the moldand pressed into the desired shape; thereby permitting the use of metalof a lower melting point than would otherwise be feasible, andpreventing the formation of bubbles in the glass, along the Wires. Theglass portion. of the completed globe is indicated at 10, the wallthereof being outwardly thickened at the open end to provide there anannular external flange 11. The longitudinal reenforcing wires pass intothis flange or, at least into the glass at the base of the flange.

The edge of the globe, at the open end, must have a wide metal bearingface to make it pos sible to secure a tight joint between the end of theglobe and a supporting fitting. I therefore place in the mold, beforedepositing the molten glass in the latter, a suitable cap ring that mayconveniently be a ilat ring 12 of sheet metal as wide as the width ofthe edge of the wall of the globe at the open end. The ring 12 has aperipheral flange 13 wide or deep enough to cover the peripheral edge ofthe glass flange 11. In order to cause the attachment of the cap ring tothe globe, I enlarge the mold cavity in the upper end of the mold inwhich the globe is cast, as indi cated at C in Fig. 3, so as to permitthe cap ring to be set into the same after the wire reenforcingstructure has been inserted in the mold. Then, when the molten glass isforced upwardly by a plunger descending into the mold, it flowslaterally into engagement with the annular wall 13 of the cap ring aswell as upwardly against the under side of the flat part 12 of the capring.

When the glass becomes cool the cap ring remains attached to the globe.

The globe may be supported in any suitable way in proper relation to alight bulb or lamp. In the arrangement shown, there is a metal fittingin theform of a dome-like box 14 open at the lower end and having at theupper end a hub 15 into which may be screwed a pipe to support the sameand serve as a conduit for conductors 17. These conductors lead to alamp receptacle and supports the globe therefrom. The flange on theglobe is held against the annular ledge or lip 23 by a ring 24 screwedinto the ring or sleeve 22 and having, on the under side at least, aflat face whose radial width is equal to the width of the cap ring 12 onthe globe. Consequently, after the parts have been assembled, there canbe no interchange of gases or other fluids between the interior of theglobe and the exterior through the joint between the end edge of theglobe and the ring 24. Furthermore, by proportioning the parts so thatthe ring or sleeve 22 is screwed upon the box member of the fitting fora distance corresponding to a considerable number of threads, it will bevery difficult for any leakage to occur between the interior and theexterior through the screw joint between the box and the ring or sleeve22.

If a reflector for a lamp, such as indicated at 25 in Fig. 2, arrangedwithin the holder, be desired, it may be provided with a central openingso as to permit it to be clamped between the ring or sleeve 2.2 and anoverhanging shoulder 26 on the box above the screw-threaded part 20;such a reflector being shown at 27 in Figs. 1 and 2.

After the fixture has been wired, the upper compartment in the box maybe filled or partially filled with a suitable sealing compound, such asindicated at 28 in Fig. 2; this compound being introduced through anopening in the upper part of the box adapted to be closed by a pipe plug29.

If desired, the ring or sleeve 22 may have fixed thereto or form partthereof a heavy, sturdy metal cage 30 that encloses the globe. On theother hand, as shown in Fig. 5, no such cage or guard need be employed,particularly where the service is such that the reenforced globe will bestrong enough to withstand the shocks or blows to which it may besubjected.

As heretofore described, the ring 1 consists of a comparatively lightwire to which the longitudinal wires are welded or brazed. In Fig. 10there is shown a wire 31, crimped at intervals, as indicated at 32, toreceive the ends of the longitudinal reenforcing wires, the extreme endsof which may be bent laterally, as indicated at 33. Instead of employinga wire to connect together the free ends of the longitudinal reenforcingwires, I may employ an annular trough 34 of light sheet metal, as shownin Fig. 11. This trough may be perforated. at intervals to provideopenings for the passage of the longitudinal reenforcing wires. Thesewires may have their extreme ends bent laterally, after emerging throughthe bottoms of the troughs, as shown at 36 in Fig. 13. Furthermore, theside walls of the trough may be pinched inwardly, as indicated at 37, onopposite sides of each of the wires 2, thereby causing the wires to befrictionally gripped.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a rugged transparent globe,reenforced in a simple manner that avoids the formation of air or gasbubbles in the glass and also avoids the setting up of internal stressesapt to cause the glass to crack either upon cooling or when subjected toblows or shocks that otherwise are not injurious. It will further beseen that I have produced a simple fitting for supporting the globe anda lamp or light bulb and making it practically impossible for anyinterchange between gases to take place between the interior of theglobe and the space surrounding the globe; thereby greatly lessening thefire hazard when devices of this kind are employed.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a singlepreferred form of my invention, with a few minor modifications, I do notdesire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustratedand described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which comeWithin the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A globe closed at one end and open at the other end, reenforcingwires extending from the middle of the closed end to the open end, theWires being sunk at least partially into the glass.

2. A glass globe closed at one end and open at the other end, the rim ofthe globe being thickened in the outward direction, and reenforcingwires extending from the middle of the closed end of the globe to theopen end, the wires being at least partially embedded in the glass inthe body portion of the globe and extending down into the outwardlythickened part.

3. A glass globe closed at one end and open at the other end, said globehaving a series of external open grooves extending from a point in theclosed end lengthwise of the globe, and reenforcing wires lying in saidgrooves.

4. A glass globe closed at one end and open at the other end, said globehaving at said open end a thickened part producing a peripheral flange,there being external open grooves extending lengthwise of the globe fromthe closed end to said flange, and reenforcing wires lying in saidgrooves and extending into the body of said flange.

5. A glass globe closed at one end and open at the other end, a metalring embedded in the glass at said open end, and reenforcing wiresextending from said ring lengthwise of the globe to the closed end.

6. A glass globe closed at one end and open at the other end, the globehaving at its open end a thickened part producing a flange surroundingthe end, a metal ring embedded in said thickened part, and reenforcingwires extending from said ring along the exterior of the globe to theclosed end.

7. A glass globe closed at one end and open at the other end, the globehaving at its open end a thickened part producing a flange surroundingthat end, a metal ring embedded in said thickened part, a member atleast partially embedded in the closed end of the globe and exposed onthe outer side of the latter, there being grooves in the periphery ofthe globe extending lengthwise thereof from said flange to said member,and

wires lying in said grooves and extending from said ring to said member.

8. A glass globe closed at one end and open at the other end, the globehaving at its open end a thickened part producing a flange surroundingthat end, and a thin flat metal cap ring covering the edge face of theglobe at said open end and providing the open end of the globe with aflat annular bearing face of considerable width, said ring having a partsurrounding and engaged with the periphery of the flange.

9. A glass globe in the form of a cylindrical shell having a dome-shapedclosed end and the other end being open, and a metal reenforcingstructure for the globe comprising a series of external at leastpartially embedded wires extending over the dome and along thecylindrical body of the globe and each lying in a plane containing thelong axis of the cylinder.

10. A glass globe in the form of a cylindrical shell having adome-shaped closed end and the other end being open, the globe beingthickened at its open end thereby producing at that end an annularperipheral flange, a metal ring embedded in the thickened part of theglobe at the open end, there being grooves in the exterior of the globeextending from the flange to the top of the dome, reenforcing wiresextending from said ring along said grooves and forming an openworksheathing for the globe.

11. A glass globe in the form of a cylindrical shell having adome-shaped closed end and the other end being open, the globe beingthickened at its open end thereby producing at that end an annularperipheral flange, a metal ring embedded 1 i in the thickened part ofthe globe at the open end, there being grooves in the exterior of theglobe, each lying in a plane containing the axis of the cylinder andextending from the flange across the dome and back to the flange on thel opposite side of the globe, and a series of continuous reenforcingwires each lying in one of said grooves and connected at its ends tosaid wires.

12. A reenforcing device for a glass globe ERNST G. K. ANDERSON.

